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“Yes, thanks, sir,” Dan lied, obeying the implied request to return downstairs.
Nauseous and feeling dizzy, Dan returned to the kitchen and slumped on the couch where only a few minutes earlier he and Sarah had been passionately kissing. Seriously? How could she kiss him like that only to dump him the next minute? Or had that been her goodbye kiss?
He bent over, head in his hands, and groaned, the sound echoing through the kitchen. What a stupid way to end things. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, trying to calm his rapid pulse, clasping his hands to stop the shaking, his mind a whirl of confusion. For all her messy explanation, it still wasn’t clear. What had she meant by saying she couldn’t be with him? Was she still hung up on Stephen? He felt like an ulcer wanted to explode in his stomach; he was starting to hate the dead man. He hissed out a breath and shook his head. No, this wasn’t just about Sarah’s past; it seemed to be about the future. But what? What had her exact words been? What had she said? What had he done wrong? Would she come down and properly explain?
“Dan?” Ange’s soft voice drew his attention to the door. “Are you okay?”
Nope. He had the weirdest feeling he’d never be okay again.
“Where’s Sarah?”
“Upstairs.”
Her brow knit as if she’d heard the tremor in his voice too. “You told her?”
“Yeah. Then she told me.”
The lines on her forehead deepened. “Told you what?”
“Did you know she can’t have kids?”
“What?”
He’d take that as a no, then. He pulled the necklace from his pocket. “She gave this back. Told me she wants to break up.”
“Oh, Dan.”
“Then she ran upstairs, wouldn’t open the door to talk to me. I thought she loved me, but…” He managed a broken laugh. Yeah, he felt as stunned as Ange looked. “I’ve got no idea what to do.”
“Let me go talk with her.”
“You can, but I think her mind’s made up.” Emotion clutched his chest, and he glanced away, breathing slowly to regain control. “She doesn’t want me at the airport. Doesn’t want to see me anymore. I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll talk to her. I’ll get her to call you, okay?”
He nodded, but her words seemed devoid of any certainty. “Yeah, well, just in case that doesn’t work, can you give this to her mom for safekeeping?” He poured the necklace into her hand. “I can’t explain this to them right now. It’s too, too—” He swallowed, once more overcome with the rawness of it all.
“I will. Make your goodbyes, and I’ll text you as soon as I’ve talked with Sarah.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t give up, Dan.” She offered a wry smile. “You know she’s always been a little more passionate than other people.”
One of the things he loved about her. He nodded. Moved to the front room. Put his defense face on. Deflected their queries about Sarah’s absence, instead offering his best wishes for their safe travels.
“Are you coming to the airport in the morning?” Lindy asked.
“I have a flight to Montreal.” Later in the day. But they didn’t need to know that. Nor that their daughter wanted nothing more to do with him. His chest physically hurt with the effort to keep the ache contained.
“I can understand Sarah might wish to say her goodbyes tonight rather than in the morning.” Lindy smiled gently, and he could see her daughter’s likeness. “Sarah’s probably too upset to be down here right now.”
Dan’s gritted-teeth smile slipped. Yeah, but not for the reason Lindy thought. “Well, it’s been good to meet you. Happy new year.” The words tasted hollow in his mouth.
“You too, Dan.” She hugged him, then he shook Sarah’s dad’s hand.
“I’m sure we’ll stay in touch,” James said.
Yeah, nothing to be sure of there.
